Add your own rating

Only items marked with (*) are averaged
into the displayed overall rating.

General Rating Criteria

*Temperament

(1=Awful,10=Excellent)

*Scholarship

(1=Awful,10=Excellent)

*Industriousness

(1=Not at all industrious,10=Highly industrious)

*Ability to Handle Complex Litigation

(1=Awful,10=Excellent)

*Punctuality

(1=Chronically Late,10=Always on Time)

*General Ability to Handle Pre-Trial Matters

(1=Not all Able, 10=Extremely Able)

*General Ability as a Trial Judge

(1=Not all Able, 10=Extremely Able)

Flexibility In Scheduling

(1=Completely Inflexible,10=Very Flexible)

Criminal Rating Criteria (if applicable)

*Evenhandedness in Criminal Litigation

(1=Demonstrates Bias,10=Entirely Evenhanded)

General Inclination Regarding Bail

(1=Pro-Defense,10=Pro-Government)

Involvement in Plea Discussions

(1=Not at all Involved, 10=Very Involved)

General Inclination in Criminal Cases Pretrial Stage

(1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)

General Inclination in Criminal Cases Trial Stage

(1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)

General Inclination in Criminal Cases Sentencing Stage

(1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)

Civil Rating Criteria (if applicable)

*Evenhandedness in Civil Litigation

(1=Not at all Evenhanded,10=Entirely Evenhanded)

Involvement in Settlement Discussions

(1=Not at all Involved,10=Very Involved)

General Inclination

(1=Pro-defendant, 10=Pro-plaintiff)

Comments

What others have said about
Hon. Kenji Machida

Comments

Litigant

Comment #: CA10658
Rating:1.0
Comments:
Terrible. Rude, sarcastic, biased and personal. I was not given chance to tell my side of the story at all and given judgment. I protested that I should have my explanation but denied by him. His ruling is not supported by evidence or legal authority. It is a disaster to have him on the bench.

Litigant

Comment #: CA9805
Rating:1.0
Comments:
I was Defendant in a small claims action which was heard by Judge Machida. I was stunned by his ruling, which was unsupported by legal authority, evidence and common sense. Judge Machida is a wrecking ball to the California Courts. He has destroyed my belief that our system is essentially just..

Other

Comment #: CA9788
Rating:1.0
Comments:
There is no ambiguity in the fact that Judge Machida sides with defendants as he admittedly likes to avoid appeals. He bullies plaintiffs by doing things like allowing attorneys to argue on behalf of defendants in consolidated, non-appeals small claims cases.

Before hearing any cases, he lectures the court on making sure to provide evidence, claiming personal appeals or unproven claims will hold no weight with him. His rulings contradict those instructions as he goes out of his way to listen to outrageous, unsupported claims by defendants. Will not allow witnesses to speak that support plaintiff claims even when defendant makes direct, unsupported false accusations about said witness. He slyly tries to hide his favoritism by making gentle, insincere remarks about a defendant "not helping their case" or asking them to "please stop speaking out of turn", allowing plaintiff(s) believe he's siding with them so the plaintiff(s) make(s) it easier for him to rule unjustly. Tricks of the trade likely fine-tuned throughout a career of unethical, unjust practice. It's not a coincidence this is the only review suggesting Machida is pro-defendant. He's an oppressive landlord's dream arbiter.

This lazy, cowardly, tiring disgrace of a judge appears to feel no shame each time he leaves a damaging scar on the legitimacy of the California justice system.

Civil Litigation - Govt.

Comment #: CA8467
Rating:1.0
Comments:
The Hon. Machida sides on the defense because he does not want to hear any appeals to use up any more time or resources. He did not read through the evidence and is a biased judge siding on the defense. Hence, he does not seek the truth. A shame to the justice system.

Other

Comment #: CA5463
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
This Judge is the worst. Breaks handfuls of CCP codes,shows favoritism towards attorneys if they are the defendants,and is all around completely unreasonable.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA4580
Rating:9.6
Comments:
He is an excellent judge who actually takes the time to read the papers submitted and ask the right questions. Like any good judge, he's able to identify the real issues and ultimately come to the right decision.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA4575
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I had business dealings with him before he became a judge. He was devoid of a sense of moral rectitude. He would cheat an orphan out of his clothes without remorse.